Cheese-hoop.



O. W. STROOTA.

CHEESE HOOP.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 4, 1911.

1,018,789. Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

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OSCAR W. STROOTA, OF ABBOTSFORD, WISCONSIN.

CHEESE-HOOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2'7, 1912.

Application filed August 4., 1911. Serial No. 642,321.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR IV. STROOTA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Abbotsford, in the county of Clark and State of WVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in OheeseHoops, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in cheese hoops and more particularly to a locking means therefor, and my object is to provide a device of this character formed of one piece of metal, the ends of which are provided with means for the interlocking thereof.

A further object of the invention resides in ,providingahoop or band, the ends of which are slit a plurality of times to form flaps which are adapted to interlock, and still another object resides in providing the edges of said flaps or tongues with beveled faces.

A still further object resides in providing certain of the flaps with beveled edges on one of the faces thereof, while certain other of the flaps have their beveled edges disposed on the opposite faces thereof.

A still further object resides in providing a device which is extremely simple in construction, thereby readily and cheaply manufactured, and one which is very effective and useful in operation.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

I In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hoop show ing the ends separated. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof showing the ends in looked engagement with one another. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the device as seen on line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar view as seen on line 4.4, Fig. 2, and, Fig. 5 is a vertical section as seen on line 5-5, Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention, I shall refer to the drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and in which 1 indicates a band or hoop formed of a single piece of metal and of any desired size, the ends of which are slit at equal distances from the upper and lower edges thereof to form the flaps 2, 3 and 4 on one end and the flaps 2, 3 and 4 on the other end thereof. The slits in the ends of said hoop being disposed the same distance from the edges of the one end thereof as the slits in the opposite end, it will be seen that the opposed flaps will be in substantial alinement with one another, and the flaps 2 and 4 and the flap 3 have their inner faces at the edges thereof beveled, as shown at 5, while the flap 3 and flaps 2 and t have their outer faces at't-he edges thereof also beveled, as shown at 6. Thus, when the ends of this hoop are brought together, the flaps of the opposed edges are adapted to interlock with one another, and as the opposed faces'thereof are beveled, the interlocking will be aided as well as a perfect joint formed, and when so interlocked, the ends of said hoop are prevented from lateral movement and will effectively carry out the purpose for which they are designed. One end of the metallic hoop is provided adja cent its upper edge with an opening 7 This opening is provided for the convenient application of a suitable tool or instrument whereby the ends of the hoop may be readily separated.

I am well aware of the fact that devices for interlocking the ends of these hoops have been previously patented, but in every instance, difliculty has been experienced in the operation of the hoop, either from one defect or the other, but it will. be seen that with the improvements applied, such as I have provided, the many difficulties which have heretofore been experienced, will be obviated.

In operation, after the bandages have been applied to the cheese, this hoop is applied thereto, the ends thereof being brought together and readily engaged with one another by means of the interlocking flaps. as above described, whereupon any mechanical means desired may be provided for the securing of the hoop in position. When it is desired to remove the hoop, the mechanical means may be removed therefrom and the ends of the hoop readily separated, whereby said hoop may be removed and applied to another cheese, as desired.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided an improved cheese hoop composed of a single piece of material, the

ends of which are slit in a plurality of places, the slits in one end being disposed at equal distances from the edges of said hoop and in alinement with the slits of the opposed ends. It will further be seen that by slitting the ends of the hoop in the manner described, a plurality of flaps will be formed, opposing flaps being adapted to interlock. It will further be seen that I have provided the flaps on their effective engaging faces with beveled edges, the beveling of the edges of one flap being coincident to the beveling of the face of the opposed flap, thereby aiding in the interlocking of said flaps as well as forming a perfect joint. It will further be seen that this device is extremely simple and durable in construction, and one which is very efiective and useful in operation.

What I claim is 1. A device of the class described, comprising a hoop formed of a single piece of metal, the ends of which are slit a number of times and at equal distances from the edges thereof to form flaps, said flaps being adapted to interlock and having their engaging faces beveled.

2. A hoop formed of a single piece of metal, the ends of which are slit at equal dis tances from the edges thereof to form a plurality of flaps, the opposed flaps having the opposite faces thereof beveled coincident to one another and adapted to interlock when the ends of the hoop are brought together.

3. A split hoop formed of a single piece of metal, the ends of which are slit at equal distances from the edges thereof to form a plurality of flaps thereon, said flaps being adapted to interlock with one another when the ends of said hoop are brought together, certain of said flaps having their outer faces beveled and certain other of said flaps having their inner faces beveled.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

- OSCAR STROOTA.

Witnesses WM. HILL, ELI PARKHILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

